Chapter 832

Natalie Castillo immediately raised her hand.

"I'll go first!"

Evelyn Ross glanced at her, a slight smile touching her lips.

Before, when she had tried to get some information, this girl had always been secretive and evasive.

Now, with Joanna Sterling here, it seemed to have sparked her competitive spirit.

Evelyn nodded.

"Alright, go ahead."

Natalie cleared her throat.

"Over the years, I've gone back a few times. The process is pretty much the same each time. First, you take a large ship out to sea. When you reach a designated area, a small boat comes to pick you up. As soon as you board the small boat, your eyes are blindfolded. Then you drift on the sea for about twelve hours before landing. Once ashore, you're not allowed to remove the blindfold. You're directly put into a sedan chair and carried back to your respective homes."

Her tone was light.

"When the sedan chair stops and the blindfold comes off, voila, you're home!"

Evelyn Ross: "..."

What was the difference between saying this and saying nothing?

She shifted her gaze to Joanna Sterling.

Joanna nodded.

"My return process is identical. Each time, we can stay at home for seven days to reunite with our parents. When the time is up, someone comes to pick us up and take us back. When they send us back, they place us on a large cruise ship. To outsiders, it looks like we've just been on a week-long cruise vacation, but in reality, we've already spent a full seven days back at the Sterling Family."

Evelyn pondered.

"During your time at home, can you go outside?"

Natalie shook her head.

"No."

Joanna added.

"The supervision is extremely strict. You're not allowed to go anywhere. Someone even comes by daily for spot checks. This continues until the seventh day when you're taken away. Those seven days are essentially being confined at home, spending time with your parents."

Natalie chimed in.

"There's no cell phone signal at home, but the TV can receive channels from all over the country. Aside from not being able to go out, life is quite comfortable."

Joanna continued.

"Each time we go back, we only get to stay for a few days before leaving. This is also a form of protection for us."

Evelyn understood.

"If you could go out, others could find out where you live, come directly to eliminate you, and the heir competition would be decided early. So, strictly restricting movement is actually to protect your lives."

"Exactly," they said in unison.

"With our faces, besides our parents, no outsiders recognize us. If you think about it carefully, those few days we go back each year are actually the most peaceful time for us, because it's absolutely safe."

Out in the world, you have to be constantly vigilant against other heirs plotting against you.

But once you return to the Sterling Family, you know it's an impenetrable fortress, the safest harbor.

So...

"After I get home, aside from chatting with my mom, I basically spend the rest of the time lying in bed, sleeping for a full seven days."

Joanna said.

"Complete relaxation."

Natalie, on the other hand, said.

"I can eat my mom's cooking for seven days straight. It's pure bliss."

Evelyn Ross: "..."

She furrowed her brows.

"If I don't have the account password, can I still log in?"

Natalie and Joanna said in unison.

"Of course! Going home doesn't require verifying an account password. That thing is only needed to verify identity during the final heir competition. Actually, our faces are our passes."

Evelyn was taken aback.

Natalie and Joanna explained.

"The Guardians regularly report our recent situations to the Sterling Family."

Evelyn felt something was off.

"Then what about Elian Cross?"

Natalie and Joanna exchanged a look, also showing confusion.

"That's right. The Sterling Family keeps tabs on our recent situations. But Elian Cross even changed his gender. How come the Sterling Family seems unaware?"

Joanna provided some background.

"In the Sterling Family, girls are the treasure. Because only the female genes can be stably passed down. Male genes get diluted and disappear after two generations. So, boys are often called 'money-losers,' while girls are the family heirs. If the Sterling Family knew Elian Cross was male, they would definitely capture him, bring him back, and disqualify him as an heir!"

Natalie covered her mouth.

"How did he hide it from the Sterling Family?"

Evelyn suddenly thought of something.

"Do you remember that little follower he always kept by his side?"

They both nodded.

Evelyn said slowly.

"Is it possible that that little follower is his Guardian? With a Guardian's help to deceive the Sterling Family together, they could evade the Sterling Family's investigations."

Natalie had a sudden realization.

"No wonder that little follower wasn't the least bit intimidated when he saw me!"

Joanna stroked her chin.

"Usually, Guardians and heirs share common interests, so it's normal for them to protect each other. It's not hard to understand that little follower helping Elian Cross hide his gender secret."

Evelyn nodded and looked at the two of them.

"Alright, now for the last question. How do I get the ticket back to the Sterling Family?"

Natalie and Joanna looked at each other and smiled, speaking in unison.

"The Guardian will deliver it, of course!"